Cathedral of the Theophany in Elokhovo (Moscow)

The Cathedral of the Theophany in Elokhovo, also Ephiphany Cathedral in Elokhovo, in Moscow, Russia is a vicarial church of the Church of Russia. The cathedral remained open during the Soviet period, serving as the patriarchal cathedral. The patronal feasts for the cathedral are celebrated respectively on January 6, May 9, and March 25 (os).

History

The cathedral is situated on the site of the fifteenth century Church of the Mother of God of Vladimir in what was then the village of Elokhovo. Elokhovo is the legendary site of the birth place of the famous Fool for Christ, Basil the Blessed.

By the beginning of the eighteenth century the village had grown into being part of Moscow, and the wooden church could no longer accommodate the parish membership. Between 1717 and 1722, Prince Koribut-Voronetsky funded the construction of a stone cathedral for Tsarevna Praskovia Ivanovna. Prince Koribut-Voronetsky was the privy secretary of the cabinet of Peter I. The parish gradually grew to be the largest in Moscow.

In 1790, a refectory with a four-tier bell tower was added. In 1799, Alexander Pushkin was baptized in the cathedral. By the mid nineteenth century the need for a new structure was recognized and the Russian architect Yevgraf Tyurin was commissioned to build a new cathedral. The new cathedral was consecrated on October 18, 1853. The architecture of the imposing five-domed structure, with a central dome reminiscent of that of Michelangelo`s St. Peter`s Basilica in Rome, is typical for the late Empire style. The refectory and the lower tier of its campanile were retained from the old church. In 1889, a dome was added by architect Peter Zykov, above the refectory.

During the Soviet period, the cathedral remained the largest open church in Moscow and, after Stalin's recognition of the Church, the cathedral became the seat for the patriarch until 1992. Patriarchs Sergius I, Alexei I, Pimen, and Alexei II were all enthroned in the cathedral.

The cathedral has two side-chapels. The chapel on the left is dedicated to St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra and Wonderworker, and the one on the right to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin.